burton



T. L. BURTON.

SLACK ADJUSTER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. s. 1917.

'1 ,$09,984. Patented July 15, 1919.

. III f IIIIIII I IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/I/IIIIIII 'lll/1111111Irl/111111111111 24a q 25 24a T. [.VLVBURTON.

SLACK ADJUSTER.

APPLICATION 111.511 Nov. s. 1911.

1,309,934. Patented July 15, 1919.

type of slack adjusters THOMAS L. BURTON, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORTO AMERICAN BRAKE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF'MISSOURI.

sLAvcK-ADJUSTER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 15, 1919.

Application iiled November 6, 1917. Serial No. 200,500.

up the slack in the brake rigging of railway cars and trucks, due to the wear of the brake shoes, wheels, and the other parts of the brake rigging, and more particularly to that av'mg a manually adjustable screw for shifting the. fulcrum of a truck lever of the brake system.

l The principal object ofmy invention is to provide a simple, durable4 and compact construction of this type, and one in which the longitudinally adjustable screw is mounted to have a limited swinging or tilting' movementwhereby Vit may be readily adjusted to .I

the desired position without binding or bending said screw.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, illus- `trating one form of slack adjusting device embodying my improvement; Fig. 2, a plan; Fig. 3, a` transverse section; Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 1but showing an adjusting nut with a hollow projection for inclosing the end of the screw; Figs. 5, 6, and 7, aside eleva-tion partl in section, a plan, and a` transverse sectlon, respectively, showing a modification; Figs. 8, 9 and 10` similar views showing another slight modication; Figs. 11, 12 and 13, similar views respectively showinga further modification; and Figs. 14, 15 and 1G similar views showing a still further modification. l

According tothe construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, my improved slack adjusting device comprises a fulcrum bracket, 20, adapted to be rigidly secured to the-truck frame in any suitable manner and carrying a trunnion, 21, having an opening, 22, for the adjusting screw, 23. On the trunnion is rotatably mounted the collar, 2l, also having. openings for the adjusting'screw, and provided with transverse plane bearing surfaces around `lsaid openings adapted to be engaged by the adjusting nut 25, on one side and the lock nut, 26, on the other side when the screw is clamped inanygiven position. The openings through the collar and through the trunnion are of'somewhat larger diameter.'

than the screw-,j as indicated, to provide a clearance .and allow 'for a limited tilting movement of the collar. and adjusting screw, relative to the fulcrum bracket.

The adjustino' screw carries at one end the pivot pin 27 tor the fulcrum of the dead truck lever 28 of the brake rigging, and the slack may be adjusted or'taken up by manually setting the adjusting and lock nuts for shifting the screw longitudinally and thereby moving the fulcr'um or the truck ,lever the desired amount, as will be readily understood. In order to protect the screw from dirt the adjusting nut, 25, may be provided with a hollow extension, 25a, forinelosing the end of the screw, as indicated in Fig. 4.

According to the modiication shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the collar mounted on the trunnion is formedl in two semi-'cylindrical sections, 24*l and 2-1", divided upon a vertical plane and the trunnion, 21, is provided with an outer rib or flange, 21, which holds the collar in position. The adjusting nut and the lock nut are also shown as provided with shoulders and cylindrical projections extending within the openings in the collar sections around the adjusting screw. This forms a more rigid connection between the collar sections and the nuts and spaces the '.crum bracket for holding the collar in p0- sition.

The construction shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 is substantially the same as that of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, except that the collar, 24,v

is provided with a pin, 24e, engaging a groove, 21", in the trunnion, 21, which also prevents longitudinal movement of the col-V lar upon the trunnion. The lock nut, 26,'

is also indicated as having an extension, 26, for covering the inner threaded portion of the screw to protect the same from dirt and dust.

and 16, the collar member is composed of two segmental sections,\ 2-1, and 24g, bearing upon opposite sides of the trunnion, 21, though not necessarily reaching completely around the same, 'and the adjusting-nut, 25,

`is provided with a hollow cylindrical pro- In the modification shown in Figs. 14, 15V

. ection or sleeve, 25h, extending through oth of said sections and the 'opening through the trunnion around the screw. In this ,design the opening, 22, through the trunnion provides a clearance'space around/ the cylindrical extension, 25?), and permits a limited tilting movement of the screw upon the trunnionv while at the same time the sections will be rigidly secured together the threads of the screw-are protected.

The sleeve, 25", is preferably formed inn tegral with one of the nuts, such as the adjusting nut, 25,' and is adapted to make a snug {it within the openings in the segmental collar sections so that when the parts are clamped together by screwing up the nuts -having a trunnion, a collar mounted to have a limited' swinging movement thereon, and an adjusting screw supported on said collar.

2. A slack-adjuster comprising a bracket, having a trunnion, a collar Rrotatably mounted thereon, an adjusting screw extending through said collar and trunnion, and an adjusting nut for said screw.

3. Aslack adjuster comprising a' bracket, having a trunnion provided with a trans- .verse opening, a collar rotatablymounted on said trunnion., and also provided with openings, an adjusting screw of smaller diameter than said `openings extending through the same, and an adjusting nut for said screw.

4. A slack adjuster comprising a bracket, having a trunnion, a collar rotatably mounted thereon, an adjusting screw extending through saidcollar and trunnion, an adjusting' nut for the screw at one side oi' the bracket, and a lock nut at the other side.

5. A slack adjuster comprising a bracket, having a trunnion provided withl a transverse opening, a -collar rotatably mounted on Vsaid trunnion and also provided with openings, an adjusting screw of smaller diameter than said openings extending through the same, an adjusting nut on said screw at one side ot' the collar, and a lock nut at the other side.

6. A slack adjuster comprising a bracket, having a trunnion, a collar formed of two sections bearing upon opposite sides of said trunnion, an adjustingscrew extending through said sections and the trunnion, and an adjusting nut for said screw.

7 A slack adjuster comprising a bracket, having a trunnionfa collar formed of two ,sections-'bearing upon opposite-sides of said trunnion an adjusting screw extending through said sections and the trunnion, an adjusting nut mounted on said screw, and a hollow cylindrical sleeve extending through said sections and trunnion around said screw,

Aslack adjuster comprising a-bracket, having a trunnion, provided with a'l transverse opening, a collar formed of two. sections also lprovided; with correspondingl of said trunnion, an adjusting nut, a sleeve vextending through said openings inthe sections and the trunnion around Athe screw, 'and a lock nut for the screw at the other end of said sleeve. v

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set' my hand.

` v THOMAS L. BURTON.

.openings and bearing upon opposite sides 

